Government Committed to remunerative prices to farmers while ensuring foodgrains to the poor at affordable rates:Sh Sharad Pawar

Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela inaugurated

New Delhi,
4 March, 2010

The government is committed to remunerative prices to farmers while ensuring food grains to the poor at affordable rates. This was stated by the Minister of Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Shri Sharad Pawar, while inaugurating the IARI Pusa Krishi Vigyan Mela 2010 here today. He said, India will not prosper unless the economic condition of farmers improves and their purchasing power goes up

Referring to steps taken by the government to ensure remunerative prices to farmers, the Minster said, the Minimum Support Price of wheat and paddy has been enhanced substantially. Shri Pawar asserted that the increase in MSP encouraged farmers to increase production of food grains. He said, the wheat production is expected to surpass the previous record in this rabi season. The Minister informed that the sugarcane farmers got the highest price of their cane for the first time in this crushing season and the enhanced price will further encourage them to increase cane acreage, which will help to tide over the crisis of sugar shortage

The Minister pointed out that despite remunerative prices, the government, in order to protect the vulnerable sections of society, continues to provide food grains to them. He said, the Central Issue Price of wheat and rice meant for AAY, BPL and APL ration card holders has not been raised since 2002. However, he made it clear that it is not possible for the government to make available food grains to the affluent people at cheap rates at par with poorer sections. The Minister said, the country which was once upon a time dependent on foreign countries for its food security has not only become self-reliant in food grains but also capable of assisting our neighbors

Earlier, Dr S Ayyappan, Secretary,DARE and Director General, ICAR highlighted the technologies and achievements of the Council for benefit of farming community. He further added, the Council is with farmers from seed to market. The Indian Council of Agricultural Research continued to move forward in generating technologies towards sustainable agriculture and food security, said Dr Ayyappan

The theme of this year’s three- day Mela is - Agricultural Technologies for National Prosperity. Agricultural technologies and new seeds, plants developed by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), its associate institutions, private companies and farmers have been showcased in this agriculture science fare. Visit to IARI field is also arranged for demonstration of crops here. The Mela helps the visitors to acquaint themselves with the recent developments
in the sphere of agriculture